({31 )(Cis-1,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid and salts thereof

ABSTRACT

(-) (Cis-1,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid, a water soluble acidic substance, and its salts are active against both grampositive and gram-negative bacteria. The antibiotic is produced by growing newly-found and hitherto undescribed strains of Streptomyces on suitable fermentation mediums.

United States Patent Hendlin et al. Oct. 21, 1975 [54] ()(ClS-l,2-EPOXYPROPYL)-PHOSPHONIC [58] Field of Search 260/268 R, 348 A, 284, ACID AND SALTS THEREOF 260/268 K, 348 R [75] Inventors: David Hendlin, Springfield; Edward O. Stapley, Spotswood, both of N.J.; [56] References Clted Sagrario Mochales Del Val; Justo UNITED STATES PATENTS F Mata both of Madnd 3,496,080 2/1970 Harris 260/348 A Spam 3,584,014 6/1971 Firestone et al. 260/348 A [73] Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ.

Primary Examiner-Donald G. Daus [22] Ffled' July 1973 Assistant Examiner-Jose Tovar [21 APPL 37 ,371 Attorney, Agent, or Firml-lesna J. Pfeiffer; Julian S.

L 'tt Related US. Application Data evl [60] Continuation of Ser. No. 69,961, Sept. 4, 1970,

abandoned, Division of Ser. No. 728,059, May 9, [57] ABSTRACT 1968, Pat. No. 3,639,590, Continuation-impart of (C -l, p yp py )-p p acld, a water Ser. No. 655,757, July 25, 1967, abandoned, soluble acidic substance, and its salts are active C inua pa 0f 3 against both gram-positive and gram-negative bac- 1967,11bflnd0nedteria. The antibiotic is produced by growing newlyfound and hitherto undescribed strains of Streptomy- [52] U.S. Cl 260/268 R; 260/268 K; 260/284; ces on suitable f t ti mediums I 260/348 R; 260/348 A; 424/250 51 Int. Cl C07d 51/70 22 Clams, Drawmgs ()(CIS-l,ZEPOXYPROPYL)-PHOSPHONIC ACID AND SALTS THEREOF CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 69,961, filed September 4, 1970, now abandoned which is a divisional application of of application Ser. No. 728,059 filed May 9, 1968 (now US. Pat. No. 3,639,590 issued Feb. 1, 1972), which application in part discloses and claims subject matter disclosed in their earlier-filed pending applications, Ser. No. 655,757 filed July 25, 1967, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 679,165 filed Oct. 30, 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The discovery of the remarkable antibiotic properties of penicillin stimulated great interest in this field which has resulted in the finding of many other valuable antibiotic substances such as: streptomycin, gramidicin, subtilin, bacitracin, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline and the like. In general, such antibiotics are particularly active against certain gram-negative bacteria, others are active against gram-positive bacteria, and some are active against both gram-negative and grampositive bacteria'However, the activity of these known antibiotics is usually limited to a few pathogenic microorganisms, and work has been continued in this field in an attempt to find other antibiotics which would be effective against other pathogens.

Although some of these antibiotics have been found to be invaluable in the treatment of various diseases, it is found that certain strains of some pathogens develop a resistance to a particular antibiotic, and as a result, the antibiotic is no longer active against such resistant strains.

Accordingly, the deficiencies of the known antibiotics have stimulated further research to find other antibiotics which will be active against a wider range of pathogens as well as resistant strains of particular microorganisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new antibiotic agents and processes of preparing the same. More particularly, it is concerned with a new antibiotic substance, herein called Antibiotic 833A or by its chemical name, (c is-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid, salts thereof and with processes for their production.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful antibiotic which is highly effective in inhibiting the growth of various gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms. Another object is to provide a process for the preparation of this novel antibiotic substance by the fermentation of nutrient mediums with suitable strains of heretofore undescribed mi- 7 gJlitcr Yeast Extract l0 Glucose l0 Agar 20 MgSO,.7H O 0.05 Phosphate Buffcr* 2 ml. Distilled Water qs. Balance 9l g. l(H-,PO and 95.0 g. Na HPO made up to l liter with distilled water.

After several days of growth, it was found that several colony types were produced on the agar plate, namely, both white and pink sporulating types. Single colony subisolates were found to vary significantly in pigmentation, aerial mycelium, extent of sporulation, and fermentation of carbohydrates. However, each of the isolates or variants produced (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonic acid. Subisolates of the parent microorganism are identified as MA-2911, MA-2912, and MA- 2913 in the previously-mentioned Merck culture collection. The parent culture was also found to degrade to a non-sporulating form with significant frequency, which does not produce the new antibiotic of this invention.

The parent culture, MA-2898, and the subisolates MA-29l l, MA-2912, and MA-29l3 have been deposited in the culture collection of the American Type Culture Collection where they are available as ATCC 21096, ATCC 21097, ATCC 21098, and ATCC 21099, respectively. The same cultures have also been placed on permanent deposit with the culture collection of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Branch of the US. Department of Agriculture at Peoria, Illinois, and have been assigned the culture numbers NRRL B-3357, NRRL B-3358, NRRL B- 3359, and NRRL B-3360, respectively.

Based upon extensive taxonomic studies, these microorganisms have been classified in the species Streptomyces fradiae. It is a unique strain of the species, differing in one or more characteristics, from all descriptions of members of the species found in standard reference works.

For the taxonomic studies, the parent culture and the single colony isolates were stabilized by the process of lyophilization of spore stocks to insure reproducible results. Cultures used for examination of morphological and physiological characteristics were grown from these stable stocks. Certain of the single colony isolates differed sufficiently from the standard decription of S. fradiae to the extent that, standing alone, they might be considered as new species. The fact that all single colony isolates originated from a single stock and the fact that the parent culture shows a high order of variability justified including the culture and its variants in the widest scope of their characteristics, as strains of S. fradiae. Waksman has defined S. fradiae broadly (The Actinomycetes, Volume II, page 212) as .follows: The characteristics of the species are that it is nonchromogenic, strongly proteolytic, and produces the characteristic sea shell pink aerial mycelium on various synthetic media; on organic media, orange color growth is produced without any aerial mycelium." The above-mentioned strains of the microorganism producing Antibiotic 833A fit this general description with the exception that the aerial mycelium is often observed on organic media.

The characteristics of the parent isolate and of four single colony isolates are shown in Table l in comparison with the description of the type species Strepmmy' ces fradiae as it appears in Bergeys Manual of Determi- TABLE 1 of the Color Harmony Manual, 4th Edition, 1958.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTIBIOTIC 833A PRODUCING STRAINS AND STREPTOMYCES PRADIAE Singlecolony isolates derived from culture MA-2898 Original Culture MA-2898 (ATCC 21096) MA-29l2 (ATCC 2l093) MA-29l3 (ATCC 2l099) Streptomyces fradiae Morphology Sporopheres are long, branched, straight (applies to or flexuous. Spores are oval to rodall four MA shaped, 0.9 by l.2l.7 microns, in chains numbers) of more than 10. (970X) Observed on tomato paste-oatmeal agar, glycerol-asparaginase agar, egg albumen agar, and Czapek-Dox agar.

Aerial mycelium Tomato pasteoatmeal agar Nutrient agar Reverse orange. Aerial myceliumflat, powdery,

pinkish-cream( 3ca).

Soluble pigment tan.

Reverse cream, Aerial myceliumflat, powdery. ivory.

No soluble pigment.

Reverse deep orange.

Aerial myceliumflat, powdery, cinnamon-pink (approx. Sgc). Soluble pigment tan.

Reverse cream to yellow.

Aerial mycelium flat, powdery,

pale flesh pink.

No soluble pigment.

Agar

Egg albumen Reverse white to Reverse white Reverse white agar yellow. to yellow. to yellow.

Aerial mycelium Aerial mycelium Aerial mycelium flat, powdery, flat, powdery, flat, powdery, ivory with pink cream shading into mottled pink, tint, very pale very pale pink cream and white pink along edge of tint. (7ca). growth. Soluble pigment Soluble pigment Soluble pigment faint yellow. faint yellow. faint yellow.

Czapek-Dox Reverse cream. Reverse white. Reverse cream, agar Aerial mycelium Aerial mycelium Aerial mycelium flat, powdery, flat, powdery, flat, powdery, ivory with ivory. mottled pink, definite pink No soluble pigment. cream and white tint. (7ca). Soluble pigment Soluble pigment faint yellow. faint yellow. Glycerol Reverse yellow- Reverse orange. Reverse orange. asparaginase brown. Aerial mycelium Aerial mycelium agar Aerial mycelium flat, grainy, flat, powdery,

flat, powdery, pale beige with pale rose-beige. very pale, flesh white edging. Soluble pigment pink. Soluble pigment tan. Soluble pigment tan. tan. Synthetic agar Straight, branching filaments and hyphae. No spirals. Conidia rod-shaped or ellipsoidal, 0.5 by 0.7-1.25 microns Reverse deep orange.

Aerial myceliumdusty-pink (approx. Sec).

Soluble pigment tan.

Reverse cream.

Vegetative creamcolored, spreading.

Aerial mycelium moderate, grayishwhite.

No soluble pigment.

Yellowish growth, becoming orangc yellow, restricted. No soluble pigment.

Reverse cream to pinkish yellow.

Spreading growth.

Aerial mycelium flat, powdery,

cream with definite pink tint.

Soluble pigment faint pinkishyellow.

Moderate growth,

flat and colorless with areas of yellow vegetative growth.

Aerial mycelium sparse, whitish.

No soluble pigment.

Reverse cream to yellow.

Aerial mycelium moderate, pale cream.

Soluble pigment light pinkish-tan.

Smooth, spreading colorless growth. Aerial mycelium thick. cottony mass covering surface, sea-shell pink.

TABLE l -Continued CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTlBlOTlC 83 3A PRODUCING STRAINS AND STREPTOMYCES PRADlAE Single-colony isolates derived from culture MA-2898 Original Culture MA-2898 (ATCC 21096) MA-29ll (ATCC 2l097) MA 29 l 2 (ATCC 2 l 093) 54.4 2913 (ATCC 21099) Streptomyces fradiac Yeast extract dextrose agar Glucose agar Glucose broth Starch agar Nutrient Starch agar Gelatin stab Nutrient gelatin agar plates Potato plugs Loeffler blood serum Calcium malate agar Peptone-ironyeast extract agar Reverse orange. Aerial mycelium flat. powdery. pinkish-cream (approx. 3ca). Spreading fan-shaped areas of creamcolored vegetative growth with no aerial mycelium extending from main mass of growth. Soluble pigment tan.

Reverse cream. Aerial mycelium fiat. powdery. very pale flesh pink edged with cream.

Soluble pigment A faint yellow.

Starch is hydrolyzed. Vegetative growthcream.

Reverse yellow. Aerial mycelium pale flesh pink.

Starch is hydrolyzed. Creamcolored vegetative growth. No soluble pigment.

Gelatin liquefied. Vegetative growthcream.

Aerial mycelium moderate. creamy white.

No soluble pigment. Gelatin liquefied. Vegetative growthorange. wrinkled. Aerial mycelium moderate, deep cream, droplets of orange exudate. Moderate darkening of plug.

Vegetative growthtan.

No aerial mycelium. Light tan pigment. Moderate liquefaction. Vegetative growthcolorless.

Aerial mycelium cream with pink tint.

No soluble pigment Clear area surrounding growth.

Vegetative growth cream.

No aerial mycelium. No H S production. No soluble pigment.

Reverse mottled yellow and brown. Vegetative growth tan.

Aerial mycelium moderate, white. Soluble pigment tan.

Reverse e cream. Aerial mycelium flat. powdery, pale beige edged with cream. Soluble pigment faint tan.

Starch is hydrolyzed Vegetative growth- Cream.

Reverse yellow. Aerial mycelium cream with pink tint.

Starch is hydrolyzed. Cream to orange vegetative growth. No soluble pigment.

Gelatin liquefied. vegetative growthwhite to cream. Aerial mycelium moderate, white. No soluble pigment.

Gelatin liquefied. Vegetative growthorange. wrinkled. Aerial mycelium moderate, deep cream.

Moderate darkening of plug.

Vegetative growth tan.

No aerial mycelium. Light tan pigment. Weak liquefaction.

Vegetative growth colorless.

Aerial mycelium A moderate, cream with pink tint.

No soluble pigment. Clear area surrounding growth.

Vegetative growthcream.

No aerial mycelium.

No H, S production.

No soluble pigment.

Reverse orange. Aerial mycelium 4 flat. velvety, cream-colored in center of growth streak, pink on sides, and white on edges.

Soluble pigment tan.

Reverse light rose-beige.

Aerial mycelium fiat. powdery. pink (6ca) edged with cream. Soluble pigment faint rose-beige.

Starch is hydrolyzed. Vegetative growthcream.

Reverse yellow. Aerial mycelium pink edged with cream.

Starch is hydrolyzed. Cream-colored vegetative growth. NO soluble pigment.

' Gelatin liquefied.

Vegetative growthwhite to cream. Aerial mycelium moderate, white. No soluble pigment.

Gelatin liquefied. Vegetative growthorange. wrinkled. Aerial mycelium deep cream, droplets of orange exudate.

Moderate darkening of plug.

Vegetative growth tan.

No aerial mycelium. Light tan pigment. Weak liquefaction.

Vegetative growthcream.

Aei'ial mycelium very pale flesh pink.

No soluble pigment. Clear area surrounding growth.

Vegetative growth cream.

No aerial mycelium. No H 5 production. No soluble pigment.

-Reverse tan.

Aerial mycelium light growth white in color. Spreading fanshaped areas of cream-colored vegetative growth with no aerial mycelium extending from main mass of growth. Soluble pigment light tan.

Reverse cream. Vegetative growth spreading. almost colorless.

Aerial mycelium moderate. pinkishcream.

Soluble pigment faint pink.

Starch is hydrolyzed. Vegetative growthcream. spreading. Reverse colorless to cream. Aerial mycelium moderate. creamy white.

Starch is. hydrolyzed. Cream-colored vegetativegrowth. No soluble pigment. Gelatinliquefied. Vegetative. growth cream-t0 yellow, spreading.

Aerial .mycelium sparse. whitish.

No soluble pigment. Gelatin liquefied. Vegetative growthburnt orange.

dry, wrinkled.

No aerialmycelium. Moderate darkening of plug.

Vegetative growthtan.

No aerial mycelium. light tan pigment. Liquefaction very slight, if any. Vegetative growthcolorless. Aerial mycelium sparse, creamy.

No soluble pigment. Clear area surrounding growth.

vegetative growthcream.

No aerial mycelium.

No H,S production. No soluble pigment.

Growth restricted. glossy, buffcolored. lichenoid margin.

Dense, narrow. orange-colored ring; abundant. flaky. colorless sediment. Spreading. colorless growth.

Starch is hydrolyzed.

Creamcolored to brownish, dense growth on liquid medium.

Restricted. orangecolored growth TABLE I Continued CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTIBIOTIC 833A PRODUCING STRAINS AND STREPTOMYClzS PRADIAE Single-colony isolates derived from culture MA-2898 Original Culture MA-2898 (ATCC 2 l 096) MA29ll (ATCC 21097) MA-29l2 (ATCC 21093) MA Z9I3 (ATCC 21099) Streptomyces (mum-.-

Production of nitrites from nitrates Growth at 50C.

(1 week yeast extractdextrose agar) Tyrosine agar Skim milk agar Litmus milk Skim milk Micro-aerophilic growth (yeast extractdextrose agar stab 45 mm. depth) Pigment solubility Negative.

No growth.

Vegatative growthtan with rose tint. moderate. Aerial mycelium beige, moderate. Soluble pigment light rosy-brown.

Vegetative growthtan. smooth. moist-appearing.

No aerial mycelium.

Soluble pigment tan.

Clear area showing hydrolysis of casein.

Ring of moderate vegetative growth. grayish cream to tan. Aerial mycelium sparse. whitish. Partial peptonization.

Ring of moderate vegetative growth. yellow. Aerial mycelium sparse. creamy. Partial peptonization. Soluble pigment cream to light tan.

Surface growth good. Depth of growth in stab 5 mm. Aerobic.

Negative.

No growth.

Vegetative growthmoderate. tan with rose tint.

Aerial mycelium beige. moderate. Soluble pigment light rosy-brown.

Vegetative growthtan.smoothv moist-appearing. No aerial mycelium. Soluble pigment tan. Clear area showing hydrolysis of casein. Ring of moderate vegetative growth. grayish cream to tanv Aerial mycelium sparse. whitish. Partial peptonization. pH 8.1. Ring of moderate vegetative growth. yellow. Aerial mycelium sparse. creamy. Partial peptonization. Soluble pigmentcream to light tan. pH 7.9. Surface growth ood. Depth of growth in stab 5 mm. Aerobic.

Negative.

No growth.

Vegetative growthmoderate tan with rose tint.

Aerial mycelium light. rose-beige. Soluble pigment rosybrown.

Vegetative growthtan. smooth. moist-appearing. No aerial mycelium. Soluble pigment tan.

Clear area showing hydrolysis of casein.

Ring of moderate vegetative growth. grayish cream to tan. Aerial mycelium sparse. whitish. Partial peptonization.

Ring of moderate vegetative growth. yellow. Aerial mycelium sparse. creamy. Partial peptonization. Soluble pigment cream to light tan.

Surface growth good.

Depth of growth in stab 4 5-1 5 I'I'IITL Aerobic.

The growth is pigmentedv In addition, a small amount of non-melanoid soluble pigment is released. On some media, the soluble pigment is limited to the area immediately surrounding growth. Does not have indicator properties.

Negative.

No growth.

\ cgetutive growthpoor, colorless. spreading.

Aerial mycelium very sparse. Soluble pigment very light rosybrown.

Vegetative growthtan. smooth. moist-appearing. No aerial mycelium. Soluble pigment tan.

Clear area showing hydrolysis of casein.

Ring of light vegetative growth. cream colored.

No aerial mycelium.

Partial peptonization.

Ring of light vegetative growth. creamy. No aerial mycelium.

Partial peptonization. Soluble pigment pinkish cream.

Surface growth good.

Depth of growth in stab 5-15 mm. Aerobic.

Nitrites not produced from nitrates.

Faint. creameolored ring; coagulated. peptonized. becoming alkaline.

Aerobic The pigment formed is not soluble.

TABLE 2 These antibiotic-producing strains were also tested 55 for their ability to utilize or assimilate various carbohydrates. For this purpose, the microorganisms were grown in basal synthetic medium (Pridham and Gottlieb) containing 1% of the carbohydrate at 28C. for 60 three weeks. Table 2 shows the utilization of these carbohydrate sources by the Antibiotic 833A-producing strains; indicating good growth, i poor growth, and

no growth on the particular carbohydrate.

CARBOHYDRATE UTILIZATION Original Single-colony isolates Culture I derived from culture MA-2898 MA-2898 MA-29ll MA-29l2 MA-29I3 (ATCC (ATCC (ATCC (ATCC 2l096) 21097) 21098) 21099) Carbohydrate utilization Glucose Sucrose Lactose Xylose Maltosc Arabinose 65 Inositol Mannose Fructose Raffinose Mannitol Rhamnose Cellulose (Pridham & Gottlicb Banal Synthetic Medium I '71 carbohydrate) The characteristics described in the foregoing tables were used in following thekeys to the species of Streptomyces published in Bergeys Manual ofDeterminative Bacteriology, 7th Edition, pages 745-753, and The Actinomycezes, Volume II, pages 156-164. Comparison of the detailed characteristics of the culture and its variants shows that the cultures resemble the description of the type culture of Streptamyces fradiae in all significant properties. Accordingly, these Antibiotic 833A- producing cultures have been assigned the species designation Streptomyces fradiae.

Another species of Streptomyces fradiae producing the new antibiotic of this invention which was also isolated from soil is designated as MA-29 l 5 in the culture collection of MERCK & CO., Inc., Rahway, New Jer sey. This culture has also been placed on permanent deposit with the culture collection of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Peoria, Illinois, and has been assigned the culture number NRRL-34l7.

5 The new antibiotic of this invention is also produced by growing, under controlled conditions, other previously-unknown strains of Streptomyces. Thus, other strains of Streptomyces also isolated from soil and identified in the MERCK & CO., Inc., culture collection as 10 cultures MA-2867, 2903, 2917, 3270, 3272 and 3269 produce the new antiobiotic of this invention.

The cultural characteristics of strains MA-2867, 2903, 2916, 3270, 2917 and 3272 were found to be very similar. The characteristics of four of these cul- 15 tures, namely, MA-29l6, 2917, 2903, 2867 and 3269,

are shown in Table 3 TABLE 3 CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STREPTOMYCES SPECIES WHICH PRODUCE()(CIS-I,Z-EPOXYPROPYL)PI-IOSPHONIC ACID Morphology Tomato paste 4 oatmeal agar MA-2916 Loops and spirals (open and closed) spores oval to spherical 0.9 x 1.2-4.7 t; in chains of more than 15. Sporulation seen on tomato pasteoatmeal, glycerolasparagine, and egg albumin agars.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-orange.

Aerial mycelium:

mixture of white and blue-gray.

Soluble pigment:

No sporulation found on any medium used; very little visible aerial mycelium.

Vegetative growth:

brown.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Calcium malate agar brown.

Aerial mycelium:

moderate, white to blue-gray.

Soluble pigment: reddish brown.

Vegetative growth:

colorless to cream.

Aerial mycelium: cottony. bluishgray and white.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Utilization of malate:

partial clearing of area along growth.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Utilization of malate:

partial clearing of area around growth.

Hooks, loops and short spirals; spores oval to cylindrical 0.9 x 1.2-1.7 11.; in chains of 10-12. Sporulation seen on tomato pasteoatmeal, glycerolasparagine, and egg albumin agars.

Vegetative growth: brownish orange.

Aerial mycelium:

cream edged with blue-gray.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Vegetative growth:

reddish brown.

Aerial mycelium:

white mixed with blue-gray. Patches of blue-gray along edge.

Soluble pigment: reddish brown.

Vegetative growth:

golden yellow.

Aerial mycelium:

moderate,cream.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Vegetative growth:

cream.

Aerial mycelium:

mixture of white and blue-gray. Areas of blue'g'ray along edge [gr y )1 Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium: brownish white.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Utilization of malate:

clear zone around growth.

Loops and spirals (both open and closed); spores 0.9-1.2 X 1.2-1.7 1.1.; in chains of more than 15. Sporulation seen on tomato pasteoatmeal, glycerolasparaginc, and egg albumin agars.

Vegetative growth: brownish orange.

Aerial mycelium:

mixture of white and blue-gray (approx. 19fc) Soluble pigment:

tan.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-reddish brown.

Aerial mycelium:

mixture of white and blue-gray y( )l- Soluble pigment: reddish brown.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-deep cream.

Aerial mycelium:

moderate, cream to white.

Soluble pigment:

tan

Vegetative growth:

reverse-pinkish tan.

Aerial mycelium:

mixture of white and blue-gray.

Soluble pigment:

pinkish tan.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-cream. Aerial mycelium: moderate, bluegray. Soluble pigment:

none. Utilization of malate:

clear zone around growth.

Sporophores branched, straight, produced in tufts; spores cylindrical 1.2 X

1.7 1.1.; in chains of more than 10.

Vegetative growth reverse-brown to tan.

Aerial mycelium: grainy, light to dark gray.

Soluble pigment:

light tan.

- Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium: moderate, light gray.

Soluble pigment:

light tan.

Vegetative growth:

thin, colorless.

Aerial mycelium:

pale gray.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth:

flat, spreading, reverse-grayish.

Aerial mycelium: grainy, light to dark gray.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth:

flat, spreading, colorless.

Aerial mycelium: grainy, medium gray.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Utilization of malate:

clear zone surrounding growth.

TAB LE 3 Coht'inued CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STREPTOMYCES SPECIES WHICH PRODUCE(-)(CIS-l.2-EPOXYPROPYL)PHOSPHONlC ACID Nutrient agar plates Nutrient tyrosine agar Yeast extractdextrose agar Starch agar (synthetic) Nutrient gelatin plates Gelatin stabs Nutrient starch agar Skim milk agar plates Skim milk MA-29l6 Vegetative growth:

moderate, tan.

Aerial mycelium: sparse, whitish.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth:

tan to grayish tan.

Aerial mycelium:

sparse, brownish.

Soluble pigment:

grayish tan edging growth.

Clear zone around growth.

Vegetative growth:

brown.

Aerial mycelium: scant, light gray and white.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth: reverse-cream to colorless.

Aerial mycelium: grayish blue to white.

Soluble pigment: slight yellowing of medium.

Vegetative growth:

tan, moderate.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth: cream, suspended throughout medium.

Soluble pigment: greenish brown.

Liquefaction:

complete Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium:

grayish white,

Soluble pigment:

light tan.

Hydrolysis: moderate.

Vegetative growth:

grayish brown.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment: reddish brown.

Casein hydrolysis:

good.

Vegetative growth: moderate, brown ring.

Aerial mycelium: sparse, whitish.

Soluble pigment: cream to brown (layered).

Partial peptonization.

soft coagulum.

MA-29l7 Vegetative growth:

moderate, tan.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

none

Vegetative growth:

brown.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

grayish tan edging growth.

Clear zone around growth.

Vegetative growth:

brown.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Vegetative growth:

light tan, transparent.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment: slight browning of medium.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth: cream, suspended throughout medium.

Soluble pigment: greenish brown.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

light brown.

Hydrolysis: moderate.

Vegetative growth:

brown.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Casein hydrolysis:

good.

Vegetative growth: moderate. tan to brown ring.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment: cream to brown (layered).

Partial peptonization.

Vegetative growth:

spreading, tan.

Aerial mycelium:

grayish white.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth: tan to grayish tan. Aerial mycelium: grayish cream. Soluble pigment: grayish brown. Clear zone around growth.

(Not tested on this medium.)

Vegetative growth:

colorless.

Aerial mycelium:

grayish blue.

Soluble pigment: slight darkening of medium.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium: sparse, whitish.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth:

tan flakes at bottom of tube.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth:

cream; reversecream to yellow.

Aerial mycelium:

moderate, grayish white.

Soluble pigment:

light brown.

Hydrolysis: moderate.

Vegetative growth:

center brown, edges gray.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

dark reddish brown.

Casein hydrolysis:

good.

Vegetative growth:

heavy, brown ring.

Aerial mycelium: brownish gray. Soluble pigment:

dark brown. Pcptonization.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-cream.

Aerial mycelium: light gray edged with white.

Soluble pigment:

slight, brown Vegetative growth:

tan. Aerial mycelium:

gray.

Soluble pigment: brownish gray edging growth.

Clear zone around growth.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-dark brown.

Aerial mycelium:

light gray to white.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-tan.

Aerial mycelium: cottony, grayish blue (19dc).

Soluble pigment:

tan (edging growth).

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium: sparse, grayish white.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth: cream, suspended throughout medium.

Soluble pigment: greenish brown.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium:

grayish white.

Soluble pigment:

tan edging growth.

Hydrolysis: moderate.

Vegetative growth:

reverse-reddish brown Aerial mycelium: brown and gray.

Soluble pigment:

dark reddish brown edging growth.

Casein hydrolysis:

moderate.

Vegetative growth:

moderate to heavy brown ring.

Aerial mycelium: sparse, whitish.

Soluble pigment:

dark brown.

Partial peptonization.

Vegetative growth: light grayish tan to white.

Aerial mycelium: grainy, light to medium gray.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment: very light tan.

Liquefaction:

good.

Vegetative growth: cream to tan ring, flakes on bottom of tube.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment: very light tan.

Liquefaction:

complete.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium: gray edged with white Soluble pigment: very light tan.

Hydrolysis: moderate.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial mycelium: grayish white to light gray.

Soluble pigment:

light tan.

Casein hydrolysis:

good.

Vegetative growth: thin growth ring, cream 10 tan.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

tan.

Soft coagulum followed by peptonization.

TABLE 3 Continued CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STREPTOMYCES SPECIES WHICH PRODUCE()(CIS-l,Z-EPOXYPROPYL)PHOSPHONIC ACID Litmus milk Carbohydrate utilization No sugar Glucose Arabinose Cellulose Fructose lnositol Lactose Maltose Mannose Man nitol Sucrose Xylose Raffinose Rhamnose Potato plug Peptone-ironyeast extract agar Loefflers blood serum slants Reduction of nitrates (organic medium) Microaerophilic growth (yeast extractdextrose agar stab 45 mm. depth) Temperature All readings taken after 3 weeks incubation at 28C. except where noted.

MA-29l6 Vegetative growth:

heavy, brown ring.

Aerial mycelium: sparse, whitish.

Soluble pigment: reddish brown.

Peptonization.

(Pridham & Gottlieb Basal Synthetic Medium no growth no growth (P) no growth (P) no growth no growth no growth Vegetative growth: moderate, brown partial ring.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

reddish brown.

Peptonization. pH 6.9

no growth no growth no growth no growth no growth Soluble pigment light tan (Py) Soluble pigment yellowish tan Vegetative growth:

gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

soluble pigment:

gray-brown.

Vegetative growth:

dark gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

black.

Vegetative growth:

gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

dark brown.

Liquefaction:

good.

No reduction to nitrites.

Good surface growth.

Isolated colonies along upper mm. of stab line.

Good growth at 28 C. No growth at 50 C.

Vegetative growth dark tan.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

gray-brown.

Vegetative growth:

dark gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

black.

Vegetative growth:

gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

dark brown. Liquefaction:

good.

No reduction to nitrites.

Good surface growth. Isolated colonies along stab line for mm.

Good growth at 28 C. No growth at C.

Physiological tests run after 7 days and after 3 weeks incubation. Color Harmony Manual. 4th Edition. [958. Container Corporation of America.

Vegetative growth:

dark brown moderate to heavy ring.

Aerial myeelium:

grayish white.

Soluble pigment:

dark brown.

Peptonization.

1% carbohydrate) no growth Vegetative growth:

dark brown moderate ring.

Soluble pigment:

brown.

Peptonization.

no growth (P) no growth no growth no growth (PP) Soluble pigment pinkish tan v On triplicate plates had Good surface growth and along upper 5 mm. of stab line.

Good growth at 28 C. No growth at 50 C.

Vegetative growth:

grayish tan to gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

gray.

Vegetative growth:

dark gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

black.

Vegetative growth:

gray.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Solu'ble pigment: grayish-brown. Liquefaction:

none.

No reduction to nitrites.

Good surface growth and along upper 5 mm. of stab line.

Good growth at 28 C. No growth at 50 C.

Vegetative growth: thin growth ring.

Aerial mycelium:

none.

Soft coagulum followed by peptonization.

good growth very limited growth or none very limited growth or none moderate growth very limited growth or none good growth good growth good growth very limited growth or none moderate growth good growth very limited growth or none good growth Vegetative growth:

wrinkled, tan.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

some browning of plug.

Vegetative growth:

tan.

Aerial myeelium:

none.

Soluble pigment:

none.

Positive.

Good surface growth and along k of stab line.

Good growth at 28 C. and 37 C. No growth at 50 C.

Based upon these cultural characteristics, it has been coloration when grown on synthetic agar. Since this is concluded that these cultures should be classified as members of the species Streptomyces viridochromogenes, although all of the above-mentioned strains differ from the published type description of Streptomyces viridochromugenes in lacking gray to black mycelial the only significant difference, it is not considered to be adequate to justify assigning a new species name to these cultures. The viridochromogenes section of the Streptomycetes includes a group of closely-related cultures. some authorities apply separate species names,

inter alia S. chartreusis, S. cyaneus, as well as bicolor, coeruleofuscus, coeruleorubidis, coerulescens and I0ngisporus, which Russian taxonomists place in the Actinomyces, equivalent to the Streptomyces group of other scientists. Cultures MA-2903, 2867, 2917, and 3270 have been placed on permanent deposit with the culture collection of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Peoria, Illinois, where they are available as cultures NRRL-3413, 3414, 3415, 3416 and 3427, respectively. Culture MA-2916 has also been deposited in the culture collection of the American Type Culture Collection, where it is available as ATCC-21240.

The characteristics of culture MA-3269 are also shown in Table 2. The culture clearly is a member of the series Cinereus as defined in The Actinomycetes, Vo1. 11. S. A. Waksman. Based on the sporophore morphology, the culture falls within the section Rectus- Flexibilis, as described by Pridham, Hesseltine, and Benedict, in Applied Microbiology 6, 52, (1958). [t differs in some aspects from all previously described species of Streptomyces. It is most closely related to Streptomyces wedmorensis. A relatively rapid peptonization of milk and the production of a soft coagulum are significant differences but are not considered sufficient to establish a new species. For this reason, the culture has been assigned to the species S. wedmorensis. This culture has been deposited in the American Type Culture Collection, where it is available as ATCC-2l239 in the A.R.S. Collection of the Northern Utilization and Research and Development Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Peoria, Illinois, where it is available as NRRL-3426.

The above descriptions of the microorganisms producing Antibiotic 833A are given as illustrative of suitable strains of microorganisms, which can be used in the production of the antibiotic, but it is to be under stood that the present invention is not to be limited to organisms answering these particular descriptions. The present invention also contemplates the use of other microorganisms including strains of Streptomyces either isolated from nature or obtained by mutation of these organisms such as those obtained by natural selection or those produced by mutating agents, for example, X-Ray irradiation, ultraviolet irradiation, nitrogen mustards, and the like.

The new antibiotic of this invention is produced during the aerobic fermentation of suitable aqueous nutrient mediums, under controlled conditions described hereinafter by (cisl,2-epoxypropy1)-phosphonic acid producing strains of microorganisms. Aqueous mediums, such as those employed for the production of other antibiotics, are suitable for producing this new antibiotic. Such mediums contain sources of carbon and nitrogen assimilable by the mircrrorganism and inorganic salts. In addition, the fermentation mediums contain traces of metals necessary for the growth of the microorganism which are commonly supplied as impurities incidental to the addition of other constituents of the medium.

In general, carbohydrates such as sugars, for example, sucrose, maltose, fructose, lactose, and the like, and starches such as grains, for example, oats and rye, corn starch, cornmeal, and the like, can be used either alone or in combination as sources of assimilable carbon in the nutrient medium. The exact quantity of the carbohydrate source or sources utilized in the medium will depend in part upon the other ingredients of the medium. but it is usually found that an amount of carbohydrate between about 1 and 6% by weight of the medium is satisfactory. These carbon sources can be used individually or several such carbon sources may be combined in the medium.

Satisfactory nitrogen sources include myriad proteinaceous materials such as various forms of hydrolysates of casein, soybean meal, corn steep liquor, distilled solubles, yeast hydrolysates, tomato paste, and the like. The various sources of nitrogen, either along or in combination. are used in amounts ranging from about 02-67! by weight of the aqueous medium. Examples of mediums suitable for the production of (cis-1,2- epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid are shown in the examples which follow.

The fermentation using the (cis-l,2-epoxypropy1)-phosphonic acid producing microorganisms can be carried out at temperatures ranging from about 25-3 8C. For optimum results, it is most convenient to conduct these fermentations at temperatures between 26-30C. The pH of the nutrient mediums suitable for growing the Streptomyces and producing the antibiotic can vary from about 5.5-7.5.

Although the new antibiotic of this invention is produced by both surface and submerged cultures, it is presently preferred to carry out the fermentation in the submerged state. Small scale fermentations are conveniently carried out by placing suitable quantities of nutrient medium in flasks, sterilizing the flasks and contents by heating to C., inoculating the flasks with either spores or a vegetative cellular growth of a (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid producing strain of Streptomyces, loosely stoppering the necks of the flasks with cotton, and permitting the fermentation to proceed in a constant temperature room at about 28C. on a shaker for 35 days. For larger scale work, it is preferable to conduct the fermentation in suitable tanks provided with an agitator and a means of aerating the fermentation medium. In this method, the nutrient medium is made up in the tank and sterilized by heating at 120C. After cooling, the sterilized medium is inoculated with a suitable source of vegetative cellular growth of the Streptomyces and the fermentation is permitted to proceed for 2-4 days while agitating and- /or aerating the nutrient medium and maintaining the temperature at about 28C. This method of producing (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid is particularly suited for the preparation of large quantities of the new antibiotic.

1n carrying out the production of the anitbiotic in the submerged state, a small amount of a suitable anitfoam agent such as soybean oil, castor oil, 1% octadecanol in mineral oil, or a polymerized propylene glycol such as Polyglycol 2,000 can be added to the fermentation broth to control excessive foaming during the fermentation. I

Assay (Cis- 1 ,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid is conveniently assayed by a disc-plate procedure using Proteus vulgaris MB-838 (ATCC 21100 and NRRL B-336l as the test organism. The test culture is maintained as a slant culture on nutrient agar (Difco) plus 0.2% yeast extract (Difco). The inoculated slants are incubated at 37C. for 18-24 hours and stored at refrigerator temperatures for 1 week, fresh slants being prepared each week.

The inoculum for the assay plates is prepared each day by inoculating a 250 ml. Erlenmeyer flask containing 50 ml. of nutrient broth (Difco) plus 0.2% yeast extract (Difco) with a scraping from the slant. The flask is incubated at 37C. on a shaking machine for 18-24 hours. The broth culture is then adjusted to 40% trans mittance at a wavelength of 660 m;.:., using a Bausch and Lomb Spectronic 20 by the addition of 0.2% yeast extract solution to the growth. Uninoculated broth is used as a blank for this determination. Ml. of the adjusted broth is used to inoculate 1 liter of medium.

Nutrient agar (Difco) plus 0.2% yeast extract (Difco) is used as the assay medium. This medium is prepared, sterilized by autoclaving, and allowed to cool to 50C. After the medium is inoculated, 10 ml. is added to sterile petri dishes and the medium is allowed to solidify.

The activity is expressed in terms of units, a unit being defined as the concentration of the antibiotic per ml. which on a /2 inch paper disc will produce a zone diameter of 28 mms. Four concentrations of 833A are employed for the preparation rof the standard curve, namely, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 units per ml.; each concentration being obtained by the dilution in Tris (hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane buffer adjusted to pH 8.0. Four discs are placed on each of the five plates for the preparation of the standard curve, each plate containing one disc of each of the four concentrations of antibiotic shown above. The plates are incubated for 18 hours at 37C. and the diameters of the zones ofinhibition in mms. are measured. An average zone diameter for each concentration is calculated, from which a standard curve is prepared on semi-log graph paper. The slope of the line obtained is between 4 and 5.

Samples of the antibiotic to be assayed are diluted in 0.05 M buffer at pH 8.0 to an appropriate concentration. Discs are dipped into the test solution and placed on the surface of the assay plate; two discs for each sample are normally placed on one plate opposite to one another. Two discs dipped into 0.4 units per ml. (cisl,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid solution are placed on the plate in an alternate position to the This substance is an acidic compound which is now believed to be more properly named as (cis-1,2- epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid in accordance with present chemical nomenclature practice; the indicating, as does the letter I, that this phosphonic acid rotates plane-polarized light in a counterclockwise direction (to the left as viewed by the observer) when the rotation of its disodium salt is measured in water (5% concentration) at 405 mu. The designation cis used in describing the l,2-epoxypropylphosphonic acid compound means that the hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms 1 and 2 of the propyl-phosphonic acid are on the same side of the oxide ring.

The structural formula of this antibiotic substance has been shown in the planar formula for the sake of convenience. However, the antibiotic can also be depicted spatially as follows:

The free acid in crystalline form is a white solid melting at or above about 94C. when placed in a bath at this or higher temperatures.

The (cis-1,Z-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid is a water soluble acidic substance which reacts with salt forming substances, such as inorganic and organic bases, to form salts. Thus, upon reaction with alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates, the corresponding alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt is obtained. Other metal salts such as silver, iron and the like can be similarly prepared by metathesis or in accordance with other methods well known to those skilled in this art. Similarly, salts of organic bases, such as primary, secondary and tertiary amines, for example, monoalkylamines, dialkylamines, trialkylamines, alkyldiamines, and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic amines, are prepared in accordance with methods known in this art. The salts can be mono salts such as the monosodium salt obtained, for example, by reacting one equivalent of sodium hydroxide with one equivalent of acid; disalts obtained, for example, by reacting two equivalents of sodium hydroxide with one equivalent of the acid; mixed disalts obtained by reacting one equivalent of the monosalt with one equivalent of a second base; diphosphonate salts obtained, for example, by reacting one equivalent of calcium hydroxide with two equivalents of the acid; mixed salts such as calcium hydrogen lactate obtained by reacting one equivalent of lactic acid with the calcium diphosphonate salt and the like.

Representative examples of salts of organic bases that might be mentioned are salts with amines such as a-phenethylamine, diethylamine, quinine, brucine, lysine, protamine, arginine, procaine, ethanolamine, morphine, benzylamine, ethylenediamine, N,N'- dibenzylethylenediamine, diethanolamine, piperazine, dimethylaminoethanol, 2-amino-2-methyl-l-propanol, thiophylline, esters of amino acids, N-methylglucamine and the like. If desired, the basic moiety of the salt can be biologically active amines such as erythromycin, oleandomycin, novobiocin and the like.

The salts of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid which are pharmaceutically acceptable and substantially non-toxic are particularly valuable and can be utilized in preparing suitable dosage-unit pharmaceutical forms. All salts are useful as intermediates in preparing the free acid and for making other salts. The salts of optically-active bases, such as amines, are useful in the separation of optically-active onantiomers of the phosphonic acids.

(cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid is very stabe in aqueous solutions to alkaline conditions up to about pH 1 l with ammonia or organic amines. Heating aqueous solutions at 100C. for minutes at a pH of 8-9 does not appear to inactivate the antibiotic. It is unstable below about pH 3. At pH 1.5, the half life at room temperature is less than 24 hours. Instability, even at a higher pH, has been observed in contact with sulfonic or phosphonic ion exchange resins. Incomplete recovery is obtained even with relatively short contact at ph 3 with resins of this type.

The compound is remarkably polar. Based on paper strip studies, the substance is similar to gluconic acid. It is not readily extracted, even in the presence of organic amines, by polar solvents such as phenol. Chromatography on cation exchange resins on the hydrogen cycle also indicates polar properties. Thus, on such resins, the antibiotic is much less retarded than citric acid. The polar nature of the new antibiotic is also indicated by the almost complete lack of adsorption from aqueous solutions by activated carbon at a pH of 5.

The antibiotic is not adsorbed on acidic clays, although alumina, both basic and acid washed, are good adsorbents for the antibiotic. From aqueous solution, the compound is strongly adsorbed at pH 5, but eluted at pH 9. At pH 9. adsorption is strong from 75% methanol-water, but relatively weak in 25% methanolwater. The addition of barium or calcium salts to aqueous solutions does not precipitate the antibiotic. The ammonium salt of the antibiotic appears to have limited solubility in anhydrous methanol, but the sodium salt is soluble in 90% methanol-water.

adsorbate with aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solutions of salts such as ammonium chloride, sodium chloride. sodium acetate and the like. The eluate so obtained can be further purified, if desired, by other purification procedures. Thus, the eluate can be purified by passing it through a bed of polyacrylamide gel having pore sizes allowing the fractionation of substanes having molecular weights between 200 and 2,000. Purification of the antibiotic can also be achieved by passing the impure antibiotic solution through a strongly acidic cation exchange resin composed of nuclear sulfonic acid exchange groups attached to a styrene-divinylbenzene polymer lattice, and developing the resin with water. These purification procedures are described in detail in the pending application of Thomas W. Miller, Ser. No. 699,376, filed Jan. 22, 1968.

Alternatively, the antibiotic can be purified by adsorption on alumina; either basic or acid washed alumina being suitable for this purification. The adsorbed antibiotic can be eluted from the alumina most conveniently by aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic ammonium hydroxide solutions having a pH of about 1 1.2 and fractionally collecting the eluate. Purification of impure solid fractions containing the ammonium salt of (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid can also be affected by dissolving such material in methanol, adding an equal volume of n-butanol, evaporating off the methanol, filtering off any butanol insoluble material, and recovering a butanol solution containing the ammonium salt of the antibiotic of enhanced purity. The ammonium salt can then be obtained in solid form by evaporating the butanol solution to dryness under reduced pressure. Alternatively, the ammonium salt can be extracted from the butanol solution with water to obtain an aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid. The calcium salt of the antibiotic is produced by adding calcium hydroxide to the aqueous solution of the ammonium salt and warming the resulting solution under reduced pressure. Alternatively, the calcium salt is also obtained by passing a solution of another salt of the antibiotic over a cation exchange resin on the calcium cycle. The calcium salt crystallizes from aqueous solutions having a concentration of 10 mg./ml. upon standing or with agitation. These purification procedures are described in more detail in the pending application of Louis Chalet, Ser. No. 699.377, filed Jan. 22, 1968.

(Cis-l,Z-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid and its salts are useful antimicrobial agents, which are active in inhibiting the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. This antibiotic and particularly its salts, are active against Bacillus, Escherichia, Staphylococci, Salmonella and Proteus pathogens, and antibotic-resistant strains thereof. Illustrative of such pathogens are Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella schottmuelleri, Salmonella gallinarum, Salmonella pullorum, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis. Proteus morganii, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pyogenes. Thus, (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid and salts thereof can be used as antiseptic agents to remove susceptible organisms from pharmaceutical, dental and medical equipment and other areas subject to infection by such organisms. Similarly, they can be used to separate certain microorganisms from mixtures of microorganisms. Salts of (cis-1,2- epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid are also useful in the treatment of diseases caused by bacterial infections in man and animals and are particularly valuable in this respect, since they are active against resistant strains of pathogens. These salts are especially valuable, since they are effective when given orally, although they can also be administered parenterally.

Since the antibiotic and its salts are very active in inhibiting the growth of various species of Salmonella, it can be used as a disinfectant in washing eggs and areas subject to infection by Salmonella. The salts of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid are also useful as bactericides in various industrial applications, for example, in inhibiting undesirable bacterial growth in the white water in paper mills and in paints such as polyvinyl acetate latex paint.

Per

Capsules Capsule Disodium (cis-LZ-cpnxypropyphphosphonatc (anhydrous) (Equivalent to free acid 250 mg.)

Lactose. U.S.P., a sufficicnt quantity (Fill No. Capsules, approx. 475 mg. each) Calcium (cis-1.2-epoxypropyl) phosphonatc (Equivalent to free acid 250 mg.)

Lactose. U.S.P.. a sufficient quantity (Fill No. 0 Capsules, approx. 475 mg. each) In each of the above examples the active compound and the diluent are mixed to produce a uniform blend, which is then filled into No. 0 hard gelatin capsules, by hand or on a suitable machine, as required. The mixing and filling is preferably done in an area having a relative humidity less than 40%.

Per

Tablets Tablet 1. Disodium leis-1,2-

phosphonate (anhydrous) 330. mg.

(Equivalent to free acid 250 mg.)

Dicalcium phosphate 192. mg.

Lactose. U.S.P. 190. mg.

Cornstarch 80. mg.

Magnesium stearate g.

-Continued Pcr Tablets Tablet 2. Calcium (cis-].2-

expoxypropylphosphonate 352.5 mg. (Equivalent to free acid 250 mg.) Dicaleium phosphate 180.0 mg. Lactose. U.S.P. I 179.5 mg. Cornstarch 80.0 mg. Magnesium stearate 8.0 mg. 8000 mg.

In the above examples. the active component is blended with the dicalcium phosphate, lactose and about half of the cornstarch. The mixture is granulated with a 15% cornstarch paste and roughscreened. It is dried at 45C. and screened again through No. 16 screens. The balance of the cornstarch and the magnesium stearate is added and the mixture is compressed into tablets, approximately /2 inch in diameter, each weighing 800 mg.

Alternatively, the active component is blended with the dicalcium phosphate, lactose and one-half the cornstarch. The mixture is slugged on a heavy duty press to produce compacted tablet-like masses. These are broken down to a No. 16 mesh granule. The balance of the cornstarch and the magnesium stearate are added and the mixture is compressed into tablets approximately /2 inch in diameter, each weighing 800 mg.

Per Lyo Form (For Injection) Vial l. Disodium (cis-l.2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonatc (anhydrous) 330 mg. (Equivalent to free acid 250 mg.) Watcr-for-Injcction. USP. to make 5 ml. 2. Disodium (cis-1.2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonate (anhydrous) 330 mg. Mannitol 500 mg. watenfor lnjcction U.S.P. to make 5 ml.

Per Per Oral Liquid Forms 5 ml. 1000 ml.

Disodium (cis-l.2-epoxypropylyphosphonate (anhydrous) 660 mg. 132.0 gm. (Equivalent to free acid 500 mg./5 ml.) Sucrose 600.0 gm. Glucose 250.0 gm. Citric Acid 13.0 gm.

-Continued For For Oral Liquid Forms ml. l000 ml.

Sodium Bcnzoatc 1.0 gm. Concentrated Orange Oil 0.2 ml. Purified water U.S.P. to make l000.0 ml.

Per 100 Bottle 1 ml. size Disodium (cis-LZ-epoxypropyU- phosphonate (anhydrous) 6.60 gm. Bottle 2 Glycyrrhizc Syrup U.S.P. 100 ml.

At time of use the contents of bottle 2 are transferred to bottle 1 and the contents dissolved. Each 5 ml. of the solution contains 330 mg. of disodium (cis-l,2- epoxypropyl)-phosphonate (anhydrous), equivalent to 250 mg. of the free acid.

The (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid is preferably employed as an antibacterial agent in the form of a salt. Good results are obtained in the treatment and control of bacterial infections in adult humans by administration of from about A to 4 gm./day of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid equivalent, the actual weight being dependent on the particular salt. When the higher dose levels are used, the salt is chosen so that the cation is not unduly toxic at such levels. It will, of course, be understood that the optimum dose in any given instance will depend upon the type and severity of infection to be treated, and that smaller doses will be employed for pediatric use, all of such adjustments being within the skill of the practitioner in the field.

The (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid compounds of this invention may be administered alone or in combination with other biologically active ingredients and especially with other antibacterial agents such as erythromycin, lincomycin, a penicillin, streptomycin, novobiocin, tylosin, gentamycin, neomycin, colistin, kanamycin, oleandomycin, triacetyl oleandomycin and spiromycin.

The following examples illustrate methods for producing and recovering the antibiotic of this invention.

EXAMPLE 1 To an agar slant culture of Streptomyces fradiae ATCC 21096 was added ml. of sterile aqueous 0.9% sodium chloride solution. A cell suspension was prepared by scraping the surface of the growth, and 2 ml. of this suspension was added to a 250 ml. baffled erlenmeyer flask containing 50 ml. ofsterile FA nutrient medium of the following composition:

"91 g, of KH PO, 95.0 g. of Na HPO. made up to l liter in distilled water.

The inoculated flask was incubated at 28C. for 4 days on a 220 rpm rotary shaker with a 2 inch throw.

To each of four 250 ml. baffled erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 ml. of sterile FD medium, prepared by diluting 20 g. of dry oatmeal and 20 g. of tomato paste to one liter with hot distilled water, was added 1.5 ml. of the vegetative culture prepared as described above. The inoculated flasks were incubated at 28C. on a rotary shaker operating at 220 rpm with a 2 inch throw and one flask removed after 1 day, one after 2 days. one after 3 days, and the remaining flask was removed after 4 days incubation. The entire contents of each flask was centrifuged at 5,000 rpm for 7 minutes and the broth was decanted from the solids. The supernatant broths were assayed and activity was found in the broth harvested after 4 days of incubation. This broth gave an 1 1 mm zone of inhibition in a Proteus vulgaris diffusion plate assay.

The presence of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonic acid in the broth was determined by agar diffusion assays performed with 7 mm filter paper discs soaked in the broth and set on the surface of assay plates containing 5 ml. of nutrient agar (Difco) plus 0.2% yeast extract (Difco) medium seeded with the bacterial inoculum. The zones of inhibition were measured in mm. after overnight incubation at 25C. The assays with the broth obtained after incubation for 4 days showed a zone diameter of l 1 mm. on the plate seeded with Proteus vulgaris MB-838 and 25 mm. on the plate seeded with Erwina atroseptica MB-l 159.

Paper strip chromatographic mobility was determined by developing strips of Whatman No. 3 filter paper spotted at the origin with the broth obtained after 4 days of incubation and developed with solvent K isopropanol and 30% pH 6.0 phosphate buffer (0.01 M), or solvent C" (2% sodium chloride in aqueous methanol)]. Results were visualized by bioautography on thin nutrient agar plus 0.2% yeast extract medium plates seeded with bacterial inoculum. THe mobilities which were recorded as the R.F. of the center of the zone of inhibition observed after overnight incubation were as follows:

Bioautographic Organism R.F. in Solvent System Proteus vulgaris MB-383 .36 .73 Erwina atroseptica MB] 159 .28 .71

The mobility of the antibiotic in the same broth was determined using paper strips spotted with the antibiotic solution soaked with 0.165 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer and developed in a refrigerated unit for 2% hours at 600 volts. Results were visualized by bioautography on thin nutrient agar plus 0.2% yeast extract .plates and the position of the active material was recorded as the cm. of movement from the point of origin to the center of the inhibition zone. The antibiotic showed a movement of l 1.5 cm. under these conditions on a bioautographic plate seeded with Erwina atroseptwo.

EXAMPLE 2 To ml. of sterile AO medium of the following composition:

g./liter Beef Extract 3 Casein Hydrolysate 10.6 Dextrose 1 Sodium Chloride 5 l5 Distilled Water q.s. Balance g./liter Dry Oatmeal Tomato Paste 2O Distilled Water q.s. Balance and having a pH of 7.2 before sterilization was added an agar slant culture of Streptomyces fradiae MA-2898 2O (ATCC 21096) on FA agar medium of the following composition:

glitter 5 Agar 20 Yeast Extract l0 Glucose l0 MgSO .7l-l O 0.05 Phosphate Buffer* 2 ml. Distilled Water q.s. Balance 30 *91 g. KH PO and 95 g. Na l-lRO made up to 1 liter with distilled water.

A 250 ml. baffled erlenmeyer flask containing 50 ml. of sterile AO medium was inoculated with 3 ml. of this cell suspension. The flasks were then shaken on a 220 rpm rotary shaker with a 2 inch throw at 28C. for 72 hours. The resulting inoculum was then used to seed each of a series of 2-liter baffled erlenmeyer flasks containing 350 ml. of sterile FD medium, 10.5 ml. of the vegetative growth being used for each flask. The inoculated flasks were then incubated on a 145 rpm rotary shaker having a 2 inch throw for 96 hours. The contents of 10 flasks were then combined.

The fermentation broth so obtained and having a pH of 6.6 was filtered with the aid of diatomaceous earth. The filtered broth was found to give a 26 mm. zone of activity when assayed with Proteus vulgaris as described above.

The FD medium was prepared by diluting 20.0 g. of dry oatmeal and 20.0 g. of tomato paste to 1 liter with hot distilled water.

EXAMPLE 3 A lyophilized culture of Streptomyces MA-2898 (ATCC 21096) was used to inoculate 50 ml. of sterile FA medium consisting of the following ingredients:

g./liter Yeast Extract I0 Glucose l0 MgSO .7H O 0.05 Phopshate Buffer* 2 ml. Distilled Water q.s. Balance 9| g. KHJO4 and 95.0 g. Na HPO madc up to l litcr with distilled water.

The inoculated flask was then placed on a 220 rpm rotary shaker with 2 inch throw and incubated for 48 These 2-liter flasks were incubated on a 145 rpm rotary shaker with a 2 inch throw for 72 hours at 28C. At the end of the incubation period, the contents of 10 such flasks were combined and filtered with the aid of diatomaceous earth to remove the mycelium. The resulting filtered fermentation broth gave an inhibition zone of 29 mm. when assayed versus Proteus vulgaris MB-838 by the procedure described above.

EXAMPLE 4 2.6 Liters of the filtered fermentation broth prepared as described in Example 2 above and 3 liters of the filtered fermentation broth prepared in Example 3 above were combined and found to give an inhibition zone of 26 mm. when assayed with Proteus vulgaris MB-838 as described above. The 5.6 liters of fermentation broth was adjusted to pH 7.0 and passed through a column containing 100 ml. of a strongly basic anion exchange resin composed of quaternary ammonium exchange groups attached to a styrene-divinylbenzene polymer lattice (Dowex l X 2) on the chloride cycle at the rate of 10 ml. per minute. The resulting spent broth had no antibiotic activity when assayed with Proteus vulgaris as described above.

The resulting resin absorbate was washed with about 100 ml. of water and then eluted with a 3% solution of ammonium chloride in methanol. The eluate was collected in 50 ml. fractions, which exhibited the following activities by the above-described standard Proteus vulgaris assay procedure:

1. No activity 2. 26 mm. zone 28 mm. zone at 1:25 dilution 26 mm. zone at 1:100 dilution 35 mm. zone 22 mm. zone 18 mm. zone 8-l0. No activities Fraction No. 4, which contained most of the antibiotic, was concentrated under vacuum to remove the methanol and then diluted with water to 50 ml. The aqueous solution of Antibiotic 83 3A so obtained had a pH of 5.6, a total solids of 37 mg./ml., and gave a 25.5 mm. zone at a dilution of l:l00 when assayed with Proteus vulgaris as described above.

Paper strip chromatography of this solution of Antiobiotic 833A following the procedures described in Example showed the following R.F.s:

Bioautographie Organism R.F. in Solvent System U Proteus vulgaris M8838 .32 .78 Erwina atroscptiea MB-l159 .35 .72

Paper strip electrophoresis of the same product following the procedure of Example 1 showed the follow- Bioautographie Organism Movement Toward Anode em.

Proteus vulgaris MB-838 l 1.8 Erwina atroscptica MB-l 159 10.1

EXAMPLE Fractions 3 and 5 of the resin eluate prepared as described in Example 4 were combined and concentrated under vacuum to 50 ml. having a pH of 5.4, a total solids of 72 mg./ml., and giving a 27 mm. zone at a 1:40 dilution with water when tested in accordance with the Proteus vulgaris assay.

5 MI. of this aqueous solution of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid was chromatographed on 35 g. of 100-20O mesh spherical polyacrylamide gel having an operating range of 200-2,000 (Bio-gel P-2). The gel adsorbate was then developed with distilled water at the rate of 25 ml. per hour and 4.6 ml. eluate fractions collected. Fractions Nos. l721 showed antibiotic activity when assayed by the Proteus vulgaris disc assay method and showed a purity of about 3 to 5 times the purity of the starting material.

During the elution with the distilled water, the column was monitored with a differential recording refractometer and salt was found in Fractions 21-24 having a K of 1.88. The K of the antibiotic active fractions was found to be 1.56.

EXAMPLE 6 A lyophilized culture of Streptomyces fradiae MA- 2898 (ATCC 21096) was used to inoculate 50 ml. of sterilized medium having the following composition:

")l g. KH PO and 95.0 g. Na HPO. made up to 1 liter with distilled water.

The inoculated flask was then placed on a 220 rpm rotary shaker with 2 inch throw and incubated for 48 hours at 28C.

An inoculum of 10 ml. of the resulting vegetative growth was then used to inoculate a 2-liter baffled Erlenmeyer flask containing 500 ml. of sterilized medium of the same composition shown above. The inoculated flask was then placed on a 220 rpm rotary shaker and incubated for 48 hours at 28C.

The resulting fermentation broth was used to inocu late a 50-gallon stainless steel fermenter containing 160 liters of sterile medium of the same composition shown above. The inoculated medium was incubated at 28C.

g./liter Rolled Oats 20 Distillers Soluhles l0 Soybean Meal 20 Sodium Citrate 2 Sodium Aseorhate 0.5 Distilled Water q.s. Balance The pH of this medium was adjusted to 6.5 before sterilization. The inoculated broth was then incubated at a temperature of 28C. with agitation while maintaining an airflow of 10 cfm for 3 days. During the fermenation, Polyglycol 2,000, an antifoam agent, was added in small quantities to prevent excessive foaming of the fermentation broth. The fermentation broth was then filtered with the aid of diatomaceous earth. The filtered broth had a pH of 7.9 and contained 13.4 mg./ml. of total solids. Assay of the filtered broth by the Proteus vulgaris disc plate assay procedure showed the broth to contain 0.8 units/ml. of (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonic acid to an activity of the broth solids of 0.06 units/mg.

100 Gallons of the filtered broth was adjusted to pH 7 and passed through a column containing a strongly basic anion exchange resin of the quaternary ammonium type having a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix (Dowex l X 2). The resulting resin adsorbate was eluted with a 3% solution of ammonium chloride in methanol and the eluate collected in 2-gallon fractions. Fractions 4, 5 and 6, which contained most of the antibiotic, had the following analysis:

6 36.2 mg./ml.

Fractions 4 and 5 were concentrated separately under reduced pressure to remove methanol to a concentration of about 200 mg./ml. of total solids. 275 Ml. of the concentrate of fraction 5 containing a total of about 51 g. of solids was passed through 8.9 liters of sperical polyacrylamide gel of 50-100 mesh allowing the fractionation, desalting, and concentration of substances with molecular weights from 200-2,000 (available under the trade name Bio-gel P-2 from Bio-Rad Laboratories, Richmond, California). The resulting gel adsorbate was developed with water at the rate of 50 ml. per minute while the eluate was monitored with a refractometer. The eluate was recovered in fractions, assayed. and the appropriate active fractions combined. The 635 ml. of eluate between 5,600 ml. and 6.230 ml. was found to contain 19.1 mg./ml. of total solids and had an activity of 68 units/ml. when assayed by the above-described Proteus vulgaris disc assay procedure. This represented (cis-1,2-epoxypropyl)phosphonic acid having a potency of 3.6 units/mg.

Four additional chromatograms were carried out in this same way using, respectively, 275 ml. and 287 ml. portions of the concentrate of fraction and two285 ml. portions of the concentrate of fraction 4. The rich fractions from all five of the chromatograms were pooled and concentrated under reduced pressure to about 100 mg./ml. The 660 ml. of the resulting concentrate had a potency of 4.1 units/mg.

100 M]. of this concentrate was passed through a column containing 2,480 ml. of strongly acidic cation exchange resin of the sulfonate type having a styrenedivinylbenzene matrix (sold by the Dow Chemical Company under the trade name Dowex 50 X 2) on the hydrogen form. The resulting resin adsorbate was developed with water at the rate of 19 ml. per minute and 20.5 ml. fractions of the resulting eluate collected, the eluate being monitored by a recording refractometer. Fractions 4565 were titrated separately to pH 7 with 0.1 N sodium hydroxide. Fractions 5262 were then assayed and pooled to obtain an aqueous solution of the antibiotic.

In the same way, five additional 100 ml. portions of the concentrate were chromatographed on the strongly acidic cation exchange resin and the most active fractions of the resulting resin eluates were combined with fractions 5262 to obtain a total of 1,870 ml. This aqueous solution of (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonic acid had a pH of 6.8, a total solids content of 2.9 mg./ml. and assayed at 70 units/ml. Thus, the potency of the sodium salt of the anitbiotic in this aqueous solution was 24 units/mg. The aqueous solution was then concentrated under reduced pressure and freezedried to obtain 4.7 g. of product.

The dried product so obtained exhibited the following antibacterial and cross-resistance spectrums:

ANTIBACTERIAL SPECTRUM Inhibition Zone Diameter Test Organism mm (disc=7 mm) 4 mgjml.

Brut'cllu bronchiseptica MB-965 7 Salmonella gallinarum MB-I287 35 Inhibition Zone Diameter Vibrio percolans MB-l272 34 Xanthomonus vesicaloria MB-8l5 7 CROSS-RESISTANCE SPECTRUM Inhibition Zone Diameter mm (dise=7 mm) Test Organism* 4 mgJml.

Escherichia roll MB-60 25 (sensitive parent) Streptomycin resistant strain 23 Streptothricin re stant strain 18 OXAMYCIN resistant strain I8 Pleocidin resistant strain 39 Chloramphenicol res tant strain I2 Chlortetracyeline re. tant strain l7 Oxytetraeyeline resistant strain 7 Neomyein resistant strain 45 -Continued Inhibition Zone Diameter Test Organism mm (dise=7 mm) Tetracycline resistant strain 33 Viomycin resistant strain 17 Polymyxin resistant strain 15 Griscin resistant strain 24 Test performed versus a series of antibiotic-resistant If. to strains isolated by exposure of the parent (MBMJ) strain to inhibitory concentrations of antibiotic.

In additon to the pattern of sensitivity in the bacterial spectrum and cross-resistance assays shown above, the effect of the addition of various materials to the medium of the E. coli control plate, which affects the activity of various antibiotics differently as revealed by a change in zone size, was studied. The results of these tests are shown in the following table:

SPECIAL EFFECTS SPECTRUM Paper strip chromatography on Whatman 3 mm filter paper dried after saturation with 0.033 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer and developed with n-butanol saturated with 0.033 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer revealed the antibiotic to be a water-soluble compound RF 0. Paper strip electrophoresis developed for 2 /2 hours at 600 volts with 0.165 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer in a refrigerated apparatusrevealed an unusually mobile acidic spot 11.5 cm from origin. The presence of the activity was visualized for both the paper strip chromatography and the paper strip electrophoresis by bioautography on agar plates seeded with Escherichia coli MB-60.

In summary, (cis-I,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid was shown to be a water soluble, electrophoretically mobile acidic substance with a novel antibacterial spectrum and cross-resistance pattern.

To determine the in vivo efficacy of the antibiotic, mice were infected by the intraperitoneal route and treated with graded doses of the solid containing the sodium salt of the antibiotic prepared as described above both at the time of infection and again 6 hours later. Thereapy was given by either the intra-peritoneal or the oral route. At the completion of the test period, usually seven days after infection, the amount of antibiotic required to protect 50% of the mice (ED from this otherwise fatal infection was calculated. Uninfected mice also were treated on the same time schedule to determine whether the antibiotic was lethal (toxic) to the test animals.

Oral to lntraperitoneal Therapy Ratio Shown in Mice by Sodium (cis-l.2-expoxypropyl)phosphonate Against Three Different lnfecting Organisms ED mg/mouse/dose* for po/ip ratio for Therapy given by the indicated route at the time of infection and again at 6 hours after infection. Each figure represents one test only.

The following test results show the intraperitoneal end points of the same preparation of (cis-l,2- epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid in comparison with tetracycline.

lntraperitoneal Endpoints of the Sodium Salt of (cisl,Z-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic Acid and of Tetracycline in the Mouse Test. (Each figure represents one test only).

ip ED in mg/dose 2 dose test Tetracyclnfecting Organism Sodium Salt line Pseudomnas Salmonella .010 .020 schottmuelleri 3010 .017 .007 .009 .024 .017 .013 Salmonella schotmluelleri 1814 .027 .026 Salmonella gallinarmn 3069 .377 .055 Salmonella pullorum 3198 .625 .108 Salmonella lyphilnurium 2637 3.57 .20O Escherichia coli MB-l939 .294 .059 Escherichia coli MB2017 .331 .0O8 Klebsiella pneumoniae 3068 4.27 .100 Klebsiella pneumoniae B 4.27 .016 Proteus mirabilis 3201 .156 .068 Proteus morganii 3202 .937 .031 Proteus vulgaris 1810 3.57 .188 Paeudamonas aeruginosa 2616 5.0 .201 Pseudomanas aeruginosa 3210 5.0 .267 Diplococcus pneumaniae l 37 50 (p)* .103 Staphylococcus aureus 2949 .312 .006 Streptococcus pyogenes 3009 4.27 .01 l Smphylococcus aureus 2957" .302 .002

'Prolongation of survival time p-.025 *"Rcsistanl to pencillin EXAMPLE 7 g./liter Yeast Extract l Glucose 10 MgSO,.7H,O 0.05 Phosphate Buffer* 2 ml. Distilled Water q.s. Balance 91 g. KH PO and 95.0 g. Na HPO made up to 1 liter with distilled water.

The inoculated medium was incubated at 28C. for 24 hours with mechanical agitation while maintaining an airflow of 10 cfm through the fermenting medium; a small quantity of Polyglycol 2,000 being added to control foaming. 215 Liters of the resulting fermentation broth was used to inoculate a 1500-gallon stainless steel fermenter containing 1,200 gallons of sterile nutrient medium having the following composition:

g./liter Rolled Oats 20 Distillers Solubles l0 Soybean Meal 20 Sodium Citrate 2 Sodium Ascorhate 0.5 Distilled Water q.s. Balance the medium being adjusted to pH 6.5 prior to sterilization.

The inoculated broth was incubated at a temperature of 28C. with agitation while maintaining an airflow at 55 cfm for 2 days, Polyglycol 2,000 being added in small amounts to control the foaming The resulting fermentation broth was filtered with the aid of diatomaceous earth. 550 gallons of the filtered broth having an activity of 0.34 units/ml. was passed through a column of previously-used anion exchange resin of the quaternary ammonium type on a styrene-divinylbenzene matrix (Dowex l X 2) on the chloride cycle. The resulting resin adsorbate was eluted with a 3% aqueous solution of sodium chloride and the resulting eluate collected in 5-gallon fractions. The spent broth, after passing through the column, was inactive as determined by assay with Proteus vulgaris. Fractions 5-12, which contained most of the antibiotic activity, was combined.

An additional 550 gallons of the filtered fermentation broth was passed through a column containing 40 gallons of new anion exchange resin of the same type described above and the resulting resin adsorbate was eluted with a 3% aqueous solution of sodium chloride, the eluate being collected in 5-gallon fractions. Fractions 2-11, containing most of the antibiotic activity, were combined with fractions 5-12 from the first chromatography and concentrated to about 7 gallons under diminished pressure. The resulting concentrate had a pH of 8.5 and a potency of 0.2 units/mg. as determined by the standard Proteus vulgaris assay procedure described above.

This resin eluate concentrate was also assayed by a modified assay procedure using Proteus vulgaris as the assay organism. In this modified procedure, 5 ml. of inoculated medium is used in the petri dish and the antibiotic to be assayed is placed on a /2 inch paper disc. The dish with the test discs is then incubated for 18 hours at 37C. and the zones of inhibition are measured. the potency is expressed as the quantity of solid per m1. producing a 25 mm. zone of inhibition under these conditions. The resin eluate (25.85 liters) was found to contain 10.4 kg. of solids and gave a 25 mm. inhibition zone at a concentration of 2.7 mg./ml.

To this 25.85 liters of eluate concentrate was added 15 kg. of acid-washed alumina and the mixture stirred for 30 minutes at a pH of 5.7. The mixture was then filtered and the filtrate was found to contain 9.5 kg. of solids and to give a 25 mm. zone of inhibition at a concentration of 6.1 mg./ml. using the above-described modified assay procedure. The Antibiotic 833A adsorbed on the alumina was eluted with 25 liters of water; the alumina slurry being adjusted to pH 11.1 by the addition of concentrated ammonium hydroxide. After 40 minutes of stirring, the alumina was filtered and the resulting eluate concentrated under reduced pressure to 1 liter. This concentrate contained 361 g. of solids and gave a 25 mm. zone ofinhibition at a concentration of 0.17 mg./ml.

To 850 ml. of this rich concentrate was added 7,650 ml. of methanol and the insolubles removed by filtration. The filtrate, which contained practically all of the antibiotic, was passed through a column containing one kg. of acid-washed alumina. A methanol gradient containing 2 N ammonia in 75%, 50% and 25% methanol, and finally 2 N aqueous ammonia, was then used to elute the alumina adsorbate; 4,000 ml. of each of the methanol concentrations and the same volume of aqueous ammonia being used for the elution. The eluate from the elution with 2 N ammonia-75% methanol was collected in 4 one-liter fractions and assayedithe assays indicated that these fractions contained insignificant activity and they were therefore discarded.

The eluate from the elution with the 2 N ammonia- 50% methanol was likewise collected in four fractions of 1 liter each. The solid content and assay of these fractions were as follows:

Fraction Total Solids Assay mgJml. per 25 mm. grams inhibition zone The eluate from the elution with the 2 N ammonia- 25% methanol was collected in four fractions of 1 liter each. The solid content and assay of each of these fractions was as follows:

The eluate from the elution with the aqueous 2 N ammonia was collected in four fractions of 1 liter each. The first fraction contained a total of 2.9 g. of solids having an assay of 0.12 mg./ml. per 25 mm. inhibition zone, and the second 4.0 g. of solids and an assay of 0.16 mg./m1. per 25 mm. inhibition zone. The remaining two fractions contained only small amounts of antibiotic activity and were discarded.

Each of the eluate fractions obtained as described above was lyophilized. The solids from the last three fractions obtained from the elution with 50% methanol-2 N ammonia were combined and slurried three times with 500 ml. of methanol and then filtered. The methanol extracts were combined and concentrated to 500 ml. under reduced pressure. The resulting concentrate contained 7.5 g. of solids and gave a 25 mm. inhibition zone at a concentration of 0.006 mg./ml.

134 Ml. of this concentrate was chromatographed on g. of acid-washed alumina using a continuous (exponential) gradient starting with 2 liters of 7571 methanol-2 N ammonia at the rate of l ml./minute and continually maintaining the 2 liters of eluting solution at the same volume by adding 2 N aqueous ammonia. The resulting eluate was collected in 20 ml. fractions. The most active fractions 10-25 were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure to 1 ml., which was then dissolved in 12 ml. of methanol and an equal volume of N-butanol added. The methanol was evaporated under reduced pressure. The butanol insoluble material was remove. Assay of the butanol solution of the antibiotic by the modified assay procedure described in this example gave a 25 mm. inhibition zone at a concentration of .005 mg./ml.

EXAMPLE 8 A lyophilized culture of Streptomyces fradiae MA- 2913 (ATCC 21099) was used to inoculate 50 ml. of sterile medium of the following composition in a 250 ml. baffled Erlenmeyer flask:

g./litcr Ground Oatmeal 10 Yeast Hydrolysatc l0 Phosphate Buffcr* 2 ml. MgSO ,.7H,O 0.05 Distilled Water q.s. Balance '91 g. KH PO and 95.0 g. Na HPO made up to 1 liter with distilled water.

g./liter Steel Cut Oats 30 Corn Steep Liquor 10 Soybean Meal 10 Water q.s. Balance The pH was adjusted to 6.6 before sterilization.

The inoculated nutrient broth was then incubated at 28C. for 4 days while agitating and aerating the fermentation broth with 3 liters of air per minute.

The resulting fermentation broth was then filtered to obtain 2,350 ml. of broth having a pH of 9.0 and an activity of 3.8 units/ml. as determined by the Proteus vulgaris disc assay procedure. 750 Ml. of the fermentation broth were passed through-a column containing 50 ml. of a strongly basic anion exchange resin of the quaternary ammonium type (Dowex l X 2) on the chloride cycle. The spent broth from the column contained only a small amount of antibiotic. The resulting resin adsorbate was eluted with a 1% solution of sodium chloride in water and 50 m1. fractions of the resulting eluate collected. The first siz eluates contained the following amounts of antibiotic activity:

EXAMPLE 9 A lyophilized culture of Streptomyces fradiae MA- 2913 (ATCC 21099) was used to inoculate 50 ml. of

sterile medium of the following composition in a 250 ml. baffled Erlenmeyer flask:

g./liter Ground Oatmeal 10 Yeast Hydrolysate 10 MgSO .7H- O 0.05 Phosphate Buffer* 2 ml Water q.s. Balance '91 g. KH,PO, and 95 g. Na HPO made up to 1 liter with distilled water.

g./liter Ground Oatmeal 30 Distillers Solubles l0 Soybean Meal 25 Sodium Citrate 4 Sodium Ascorbate 0.5 Water q.s. Balance The medium was adjusted to pH 6.5 before sterilizing.

The inoculated medium was then incubated at 28C. for 4 days while agitating and aerating the fermentation broth with 3 liters of air per minute; 3 ml. of a propylene glycol polymer having a molecular weight of about 2,000 (sold under the trade name of Polyglycol P-2000 by the Dow Chemical Company) being added to prevent excessive foaming. The resulting fermentation broth had an activity of 5.9 units/ml. as determined by the standard assay using Proteus vulgaris.

A second fermentation using this same procedure resulted in a broth having an activity of 6.75 units/ml.

The broths from the two fermentations were combined and filtered. The resulting filtered broth contained mg. of solids per ml. and at a dilution of l to 32 gave a mm. zone of inhibition when tested against Proteus vulgaris using the modified assay procedure described in Example 7.

96.5 Ml. of the broth was stirred for 40 minutes with 2.5 g. of acid-washed alumina. The mixture was then filtered and the filtrate was found to contain 20% of the activity. The filtered alumina adsorbate was washed and eluted with aqueous ammonia at a pH of l 1.2. The eluate was evaporated to remove ammonia and was found to give a 25 mm. inhibition zone at a dilution of 0.125 mg./ml. by the modified assay procedure.

EXAMPLE 10 A. column of strongly basic anion exchange resin composed of quaternary ammonium exchange groups attached to a styrene-divinylbenzene polymer lattice (Dowex 1 X 2) on the chloride cycle (5010O mesh) 84.5 cm. X 1.4 cm. was prepared. The resin was washed with 725 ml. of 0.1 .M sodium chloride to equilibrate the resin. 36 Mg. of crude sodium salt of (cis-l,2- epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid assaying 27 u/mg. prepared by the process described in Example 6 was dissolved in one ml. of 0.1 M sodium chloride and applied to the top of the resin bed. The column was then developed with 0.1 M sodium chloride at a rate of one ml./minute collecting five ml. fractions. The effluent stream was monitored using a Mecco-Matic Model 2 refractometer. Every fifth fraction was assayed against Proteus vulgaris MB-838 to locate the general area of bioactivity. Two bioactive peaks were observed: fractions 180 to 268 called fraction A-1 and 420 to 560 called fraction A-2. The fractions in each peak were combined and concentrated to 10 ml.

Each concentrate was percolated over a polyacrylamide gel (Bio-Gel P-2) cm. X 1.5 cm.) to separate the antibiotic from the sodium chloride. The effluent was monitored with Mecco-Matic Model 2 refractometer. Fractions were assayed against Proteus vulgaris MB-838 to locate bioactivity. Bioactivity between 114 ml. and 250 ml. was pooled, concentrated, and freezedried. The A-l fraction consisting of 1.4 mg. assayed 277 J./mg. The A-2 fraction consisting of 3.5 mg.

' assayed u/mg.

EXAMPLE 1 l A column of strongly basic anion exchange resin composed of quaternary ammonium exchange groups attached to a styrene-divinylbenzene polymer lattice (Dowex 1 X 2) on the chloride cycle (200-400 mesh) resin 84.5 cm. X 1.4 cm. was prepared. The resin was washed with 800 ml. of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane/HCl pH 8.0 (0.1 MCl) buffer to equilibrate the resin. Three hundred five and one-half mg. of crude sodium salt of (cis-l,2-epoxy-propyl)-phosphonic acid assaying 19 u/mg. was dissolved in 3 m1. of the same buffer and applied to the top of the resin bed. The column was developed with the same buffer at a rate of 1 ml./minute collecting five ml. fractions. The effluent stream was monitored using a Mecco-Matic Model 2 refractometer. Every fifth fraction was assayed against Proteus vulgaris MB-838 to locate the general area of bioactivity. One bioactive peak was observed in fractions 115 to 185. Fractions 164 to 184 were pooled and concentrated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in water (final volume 12.0 ml.) and percolated over a polyacrylamide gel (bio-Gel P-2) (143 cm. X 4.7 cm.) to separate the antibiotic from the buffer. The effluent was monitored with a Mecco-Matic Model 2 refractometer. Fractions were assayed against Proteus vulgaris MB-838 to locate bioactivity. Bioactivity inn the fraction between 1,420 ml. and 1,680 ml. was pooled, concentrated, and freeze-dried. The resulting residue consisting of 89.6 mg. assayed 46 tL/mg.

I This impure antibiotic was dissolved in 5 ml. of water and the solution passed through a column containing 2 ml. of strongly acidic cation exchange resin composed of nuclear sulfonic acid exchange groups attached to a styrene-divinylbenzene polymer lattice (Dowex 50) on the sodium cycle to replace the trishydroxymethyl- )aminomethane group with sodium. The sodium salt of (cis-l,2epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid in the 10 ml. of effluent assayed 480 units/ml. The solution was freeze-dried to afford 71.6 mg. of solid assaying 67 units/mg.

EXAMPLE 12 A 25% methanol-2 N ammonia eluate obtained by the procedure described in Example 7 was freeze-dried to obtain 250 mg. of solids which gave a 25 mm. zone of inhibition at a dilution of 0.028 mg./ml. by the modi fied Proteus vulgaris assay procedure described in Example 7. The dried solid was dissolved in ml. of methanol and 5 ml. of n-butanol added to the methanol solution. The resulting solution was filtered and the filtrate evaporated under reduced pressure to remove the methanol. The butanol solution was filtered to remove insoluble material and the filtrate containing the antibiotic was found to give a 25 mm. zone of inhibition at a dilution of 0.0065 mg./ml.

EXAMPLE 13 The combined 50% and 25% methanol-2 N ammonia eluates, from the alumina chromatography of impure (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid obtained following the procedures described in Example 7, were concentrated under reduced pressure to 500 ml. To this concentrate was added 1,500 ml. of methanol and the resulting solution filtered. The filtrate was evaporated under reduced pressure to obtain an aqueous solution of the antibiotic which, when assayed by the modified assay procedure with Proteus vulgaris described in Example 7, gave a 25 mm. zone of inhibition at a dilution of 0.0055 mg./ml.

To 2 ml. of the above concentrate was added 20 ml. of methanol and the resulting solution was filtered. The filtrate was diluted with 60 ml. of nbutanol and the insolubles removed by filtration. The filtrate containing the antibiotic gave a 25 mm. zone ofinhibiton at a dilution of 0.0025 mg./ml. The filtrate was evaporated to 8 ml. and the insoluble material separated by filtration. The resulting n-butanol solution of the antibiotic gave a 25 mm. zone of inhibition at a dilution of 0.0014 mg./ml. by the modified Proteus vulgart's assay procedure.

EXAMPLE 14 To 20 ml. of an aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid containing 1,020mg. of solids and 204,000 units of activity as determined by the modified Proteus vulgaris assay described in Example 7 was added 440 mg. of calcium hydroxide; the resulting solution having a pH of 10.2. The solution was then evaporated to about volume in vacuo with heating, at which point the pH was found to be 7.4. To this concentrate was added about ml. of water and 100 mg. of calcium hydroxide and the resulting mixture again evaporated in vacuo to about A volume having a pH of 7.5. This concentrate was diluted with water to about 40 ml. and then filtered. The clear filtrate was evaporated to 15 ml. in vacuo and the concentrate passed over a column of strongly acidic cation exchange resin (Dowex 50) on the calcium cy cle. The resin column was developed with water and 10 ml. cuts of the resultingeffluent were taken and assayed by means of the modified Proteus vulgaris assay.

Fractions 3-9, which contained most of the antibiotic activity, were combined and concentrated to about 8 ml. in vacuo with heating. The resulting concentrate was filtered and allowed to crystallize with stirring for about 3 hours. The crystalline calcium salt of (cisl,Z-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid was recovered by filtration and washed with water and then methanol before being dried in vacuo. The product so obtained weighed 240 mg. and was found to have an activity of 220 units/mg. when assayed by the modified Proteus vulgaris assay procedure. The optical rotation of the product was M 5.7, 011, 6, 04]., 12.5, a] l4.8. Elemental analysis after drying at 125C. for 2 hours in vacuoshowed: C, 22.51%; H, 4.2%; and phosphorus, 15.3%.

A small amount of methanol was added to the filtrate and an additional 96 mg. of the crystalline calcium salt was obtained.

The aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid used as the starting material in this example was obtained by extracting an n-butanol solution of the antibiotic obtained following the procedures described in Examples 12 and 13 with 0.3 volumes of water and separating the aqueous layers.

EXAMPLE 15 To 10 ml. of an aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of (cis-l,Z-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid containing 200 mg. of solids and having a total activity of 54,000 units, said solution having been obtained following the procedure described in Example 14, was added 100 mg. of calcium hydroxide and the resulting solution diluted to 20 ml. with water and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated to about 8.5 ml. in vacuo with heating. The resulting concentrate was allowed to stand until the calcium salt of the antibiotic started to crystallize from solution, and the crystallization was allowed to continue with stirring overnight (17 hours). The crystalline product was filtered off. washed with a small amount of 50% aqueous methanol followed by a small amount of methanol, and finally dried in vacuo at room temperature. The calcium salt so obtained weighed 1 1 1 mg. and had an activity of 252 units per mg. when assayed by the modified Proteus vulgaris assay procedure described in Example 7. The elemental analysis of a sample of this calcium (cis-l ,2-epoxypropyl)- phosphonate after drying at C. in vacuo (0.6% weight loss) was: C, 21.10%; H, 4.02%; P, 16.75%; and calcium, 21.5%. This crystalline calcium salt was found to have an opticalrotation of 01]., 16.2", 111 13.2, M 7.4, Q1573 6.8 and 011 6.7 when corrected for the loss in weight on drying.

EXAMPLE 16 'To 1 18 ml. of an aqueous solution of the ammonium (cis-l,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonate having a solid content of 7.2 mg./ml. and an activity of 250 units/mg. (obtained by the water extraction of a butanol concentrate as described in Example 14) was added 2 grams of benzylamine dissolved in about 5 ml. of ethyl ether, and the resulting solution was concentrated to dryness in vacuo. To the residue was added about 5 ml. of methanol followed by about 5 ml. of benzene and the solution was reconcentrated and dried in vacuo. To the resulting dried partially crystalline product was added 6 ml. of ethanol and 2 ml. of benzene. The solution was 

1. (I) (CIS-1,2-EPOXYPROPYL)-PHOSPHONIC ACID OR THE PHARMACEUTICALLY ACCEPTABLE NON-TOXIC SALTS THEREOF.
 2. An alkali metal salt of the compound of claim
 1. 3. A sodium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 4. The disodium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 5. The sesquisodium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 6. The monosodium monopotassium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 7. An alkaline earth metal salt of the compound of claim
 1. 8. The calcium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 9. The magnesium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 10. The aluminum salt of the compound of claim
 1. 11. The ammonium salt of the compound of claim
 1. 12. An amine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 13. A monoamine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 14. A diamine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 15. An optically-active base salt of the compound of claim
 1. 16. The mono-(+)- Alpha -phenethylamine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 17. The quinine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 18. The piperizine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 19. The ethylenediamine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 20. The benzylamine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 21. The procaine salt of the compound of claim
 1. 22. The (-) (cis-1,2-epoxypropyl)-phosphonic acid of claim
 1. 